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2024 PVL Invitationals Final schedule (September 12)

Smart Araneta Coliseum

• 4pm – Thailand’s Est Cola vs Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze – bronze medal
• 6pm – Cignal HD Spikers vs Creamline Cool Smashers – championship

Creamline hopes to celebrate a rare Grand Slam this season. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Creamline’s date with destiny gets an answer on Thursday when the Cool Smashers try to complete what would just be the first Grand Slam in Premier Volleyball League (PVL) history.

Or, it can also be that the Cool Smashers will fail to achieve that for the third time in their glorious history.

No team has even come close to completing a season sweep, but Creamline has been able to do it in each of the last two seasons, only to falter in the last conference

Cignal HD Spikers’ MJ Perez and Riri Meneses during the PVL Invitational Conference. They face Creamline Cool Smashers in the final. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — MJ Perez and the Cignal HD Spikers have a shot at redemption against their tormentors, Creamline Cool Smashers, in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference final on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Perez brought back Cignal to the PVL finals for the first time in two years after dethroning Kurashiki Ablaze, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11, on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Cignal has a chance to win its breakthrough PVL title against the Grand Slam-seeking Creamline at 6 p.m.

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jema Galanza returns for the PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Better late than never for returning spiker Jema Galanza as she is eager to help complete Creamline’s historic Grand Slam in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference Final on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After missing the team’s title run in the Reinforced and their first three games in the Invitationals due to her Alas Pilipinas duty, Galanza returned in style with 13 points, eight excellent receptions, and five digs as Creamline completed an elimination round sweep with a 25-15, 25-13, 25-19 victory over the winless Farm Fresh on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Although she got the go signal late like other Alas players, Galanza is ready to offer whatever she can contribute with Creamline having a chance to complete a Grand Slam — a feat it couldn’t complete in the past two seasons.

Cignal libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig (16) returns to her mother club in the PVL after her stint with Alas Pilipinas.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Dawn Macandili-Catindig, armed with her Alas Pilipinas experience, is eager to help Cignal in its crucial match against defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze for the remaining final berth in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Catindig’s PVL return after a stint with the national team was spoiled as Cignal absorbed its first defeat of the tournament at the hands of Creamline, 25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20, on Monday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.

“With the result, still very happy pa rin ako to be back. Proud pa rin ako sa teammates ko kasi they did their best. Although yun nga, ang dami pa rin naming lapses,” said the star libero, who returned with 27 digs. “May chance pa rin naman kami to be in the finals. We just have to focus on this next game kung paano kami makakabawi.”

Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL Invitationals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Even with little turnaround time, Creamline has put itself in a position to complete the PVL’s first grand slam after making the title game of the Invitational Conference ahead of everyone else late Monday night.

Only a week removed from winning their ninth title, the Cool Smashers have taken a business-as-usual approach here and are undefeated heading into the no-tomorrow game against either Cignal or defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan on Friday.

Rest, after all, is for the lesser mortals.

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